Nástio Mosquito and Theaster Gates at the Fondazione Prada

Artworks of people with guns, using purples, blues and greens, and displayed on windows

This summer, two separate shows are opening at Fondazione Prada: 'TTT – Template Temples of Tenacity’ by Nástio Mosquito and 'True Value’ by Theaster Gates. Pictured: WEorNOT (Nastivicious’ Temple #01), by Nastivicious (illustrations in collaboration with Ada Diez), 2016. Photography: OKNOstudio

(Image credit: OKNOstudio)

By Sujata Burman

last updated 22 August 2022

in Features

The shining light flowing into the Fondazione Prada has been hindered for a slight moment. Over the summer months, the windows have been plastered in pop coloured cartoons, but with a subject matter that couldn’t be farther away from playful animation.

This enveloping piece is part of ‘TTT – Template Temples of Tenacity’, a three piece exhibition by multimedia artist Nástio Mosquito. These run in unison with Theaster Gates’ latest show ‘True Value’ in the same location – both interact with day-to-day rituals and trial them to new levels, marking a strong political moment at the Foundation.

But these two shows definitely don’t get tangled. While one openly invites a pious sentiment through choir performances and stained glass windows, the other focuses on a political message via the use of everyday products.

Mosquito’s piece in the windows is strongly titled WEorNOT. Inviting people at the entrance, this is a new site specific piece, illustrated by Ada Diez and produced by Mosquito’s collective Nastivicious, which he devised in collaboration with Vic Pereiró back in 2008. Transforming the Fondazione’s atrium into a ‘contemporary temple’, the vivid stained glass etchings evoke a psychedelic style, but here the figures have guns in hand, stand on philosophical and religious readings, or are in battle. ‘The artist invites us to his most critical endeavour yet,’ curator Elvira Dyangani Ose says. ‘Entering a space and time where judgment and evaluation are suspended, where things do not necessarily need to make sense, where – if one is up to the challenge— we are encouraged to lose ourselves in our own innate sensitiveness.’

Gates’ message is just as powerful, but with a more subtle delivery. Recreating a colour-coordinated hardware store environment on the first floor, the rough and raw pieces hone in on everyday survival. Titled True Value like the show itself, the layout delves into the products as symbols of power and struggle, via the people who encounter them. 'It alludes to the disappearance of local activities and pays tribute to the ready-made and everyday sphere,’ Gates divulges. ‘[It] denounces the failures of capitalism in valuing the individual, or tells the difficulties of a black neighbourhood that is struggling to find a new centre.’

The notion of 'you have to be there' is definitely emphasised with the duo of exhibitions as they both go deeper into their critique with separate performances and events. Mosquito has collaborated with musician Dijf Sanders, artist Chilala Moco and The Golden Guys choir for a performance I Make Love To You. You Make Love To Me. Let Love Have Sex With The Both Of Us and has plans for a cinematic audiovisual piece, Synchronicity Is My Bitch: The Cinematic Experience, in September. Meanwhile, 'True Value' will host a series of public meetings of debates and readings.

Man standing looking at artwork displayed on windows — The first of Mosquito's three pieces is *WEorNOT –* an intervention on the windows of the ground floor of the space, creating a ‘contemporary temple'*. Photography: OKNOstudio*

Vivid stained glass etchings evoke a psychedelic style, but here the figures have guns in hand, stand on philosophical and religious readings, or are in battle — The vivid stained glass etchings evoke a psychedelic style, but here the figures have guns in hand, stand on philosophical and religious readings, or are in battle. Courtesy Nastivicious

View of the stained glass style windows from the outside of the building — ‘The artist invites us to his most critical endeavour yet,’ curator Elvira Dyangani Ose says. Pictured: *WEorNOT (Nastivicious’ Temple #01)*, by Nastivicious (illustrations in collaboration with Ada Diez), 2016. *Photography: OKNOstudio*

Light from the inside of the building shines through the stained glass — *WEorNOT* will be accompanied by a cinematic audiovisual piece in September titled *Synchronicity Is My Bitch: The Cinematic Experience. Photography: OKNOstudio*

White and silver doodles on a bright red background — Mosquito has also collaborated with musician Dijf Sanders, artist Chilala Moco and The Golden Guys choir for a performance of *I Make Love To You. You Make Love To Me. Let Love Have Sex With The Both Of Us,* 2016. *Illustrations: Robin Velghe. Courtesy Nástio Mosquito*

Wall featuring colour-coordinated hardware items — Gates’ message is just as powerful, but with a more subtle delivery. Recreating a colour-coordinated hardware store environment on the first floor, the rough and raw pieces hone in on everyday survival. Pictured: *True Value,* by Theaster Gates, 2016. *Photography: Delfino Sisto Legnani Studio*

Display created from pegboards, with items from a hardware store — The set up delves into the products as symbols of power and struggle, via the people who encounter them

Inside a hardware store with dark brown counter and leather upholstered stool — 'It alludes to the disappearance of local activities and pays tribute to the ready-made and everyday sphere,’ Gates divulges

INFORMATION

'Nástio Mosquito: TTT – Template Temples of Tenacity' and 'Theaster Gates: True Value' are on view until 25 September. For more information, visit the Fondazione Prada website

ADDRESS

Fondazione Prada
Largo Isarco
2, 20139 Milano, Italy

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Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.

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